Spark-arrester.



No. 890,993. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. F. R. MINKLER.-

' SPARK ARRESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24,1907.

THE "0km: FETERs cm, WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBANK RANSOME MINKLER, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

SPARK-ARRESTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK RANsoME MINKLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re siding at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSpark-Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is designed as an attachmentfor the smoke-stacks or chimneys of boilers for engines, or likepurposes, in which either an ordinary or a forced draft is employed, ofsuch a nature as to tend to discharge sparks from the chimney.

The invention consists in the combination with the chimney, of the sparkarresting devices, and their relation thereto, and also in details ofconstruction which Will be more fully explained by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of theentire device. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the device as completed.Fig. 3 is a plan of the entire device. Fig. 4 is an elevation of thescreen cone. Fig. 5 is a section of the screen cone. Fig. 6 is anelevation of the pan or spark reservoir. Fig. 7 is a section of the samepan.

A is a chimney or stack, so-called, through which products of combustionand sparks escape, and through which, particularly in locomotive,donkey, and other smaller engine boilers, a forced draft is applied,which tends to force the sparks out and scatter them; and when inproximity to combustible substances, they are a source of considerabledanger.

In my invention, I employ a screen of wire cloth or similar mesh, whichhas a conical portion B designed to enter the upper part of the stack A,with the cone end presented downwardly. This cone is developed at theupper end into an inverted basin-shaped portion B, the periphery ofwhich is approximately level with, or below, the top of the stack, andis of such larger diameter than the stack, as to form an annular channelbetween the periphery of the stack and the rim of the screen.

Suitable brackets or arms F are secured to the screen, converginginwardly and downwardly, and connected to the collar or sleeve 2, whichis clamped upon the stack at some distance below the top, so that thescreen is firmly held with its rim or periphery H con- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed July 24:, 1907.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Serial No. 385,333.

centric with the top of the stack, as previously described.

Exterior to the stack and screen is acone C, the upper edge of which isinturned, as shown at G. This cone converges downwardly, and by means ofa clamp ring or other equivalent fastening 3, it is secured to the stackat some distance below the securing ring 2 of the screen; the adjustmentbeing such that the top of the stack and the top of the cone are,approximately, upon the same level, while the arch of the screenextendsa little above the two.

Sparks and small burning particles which are ejected from the chimneywill strike the cone, be diverged outwardly, and following the curvatureof the screen, will fall into the exterior cone. Within this cone is afloor 4 which is inclined slightly from one side to the other; and itfits between the exterior of the chimney and the interior of the cone,so that the sparks discharged downwardly from'the screen cap will fallupon this floor. turned flange G largely prevents the escape of anysparks which might be thrown upward from the floor by the intensity ofthe draft, and they will fall back into the cone. This inclined floorconnects at one side, as at D, with a discharge pipe or passage E, whichconveys them to any suitable receptacle below. By this construction therim of the screen is supported between the top of the smoke-stack andthe top of the cone 0, so that there will be a free passage beneath thisrim for the escape of smoke in case the screen should become clogged, assuch screens frequently do when the boilers prime, and considerablewater is thrown out of the exhaust; so that if the screen was rigidlyfastened to the upper portion of the stack or cone, without any freeescape, there would be a great back pressure brought upon the interiorparts, by the clogging of the screen.

I have heretofore designated the spark receiver or pan as a cone, byreason of the convenience of fixing such a form to the stack, but itwill be manifest that its shape may be changed without altering thecharacter of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 105 inclosing and fixed to thestack below the top 110 The inand the upper and larger endconcentrically inclosing the top of the stack at a distance therefrom,and a screen cone having its smaller end extending into the stack andhaving its upper and larger end turned outwardly and downwardly into thespace between the stack and the receiver to form an' invertedbasin-shaped portion, arms secured to the down turned edge of saidbasin-shaped portion and extending inwardly towards the stack, and acollar or sleeve embracing the stack and the said arms and therebysecuring the receiver in position.

2. The combination with a smoke-stack, of a conical receiverhaving itssmaller end secured to the stack below the top, and the larger endsubstantially level with the top of the stack, said receiver having aninwardly turned flange surrounding its upper edge and forming anoverhanging shelf, an inclined floor within the cone having a dischargepipe connecting with its lower side, and a screen cone having its apexprojecting into the stack and having its upper end curved outwardly anddownwardly into the space between the stack and the first named cone,and out of contact with both, and spaced arms secured to the lower edgeof said down turned portion and extending downwardly and inwardly to thestack, and means for securing'the lower ends of said arms to the stack.

3. The combination with a stack and a conical receiver secured theretowith its larger end projecting upwardly, of an inverted cone shapedscreen having its larger end curved outwardly and downwardly to form aninverted basin-shaped portion, arms extending from said portion andconverging downwardly and a clamp ring to which the lower ends of saidarms are fixed, said ring, cone, and arms forming substantially aunitary structure and said ring adapted to be fitted to the stack sothat the lower end of the screen cone will project into the stack whilethe lower edge of the basin-shaped portion will enter the space betweenthe stack and the first named cone.

4. A spark arrester having in combination a chimney or stack, anexterior receiver, forming with the stack an annular chamber, and ascreen cone having its smaller end entering the stack and its larger endextending above the stack and thence turned downwardly into the spacebetween the receiver and stack and having its edge separated from bothto provide a free escape downward into said space and under said edgeand thence upwardly into the open air.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand to this specification,this 16th day of July, 1907, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

' FRANK RANSOME MINKLER.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. SMITH, A. W. CLARK.

